Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and recognizes academic achievement in the liberal arts and sciences as essential to a vibrant democracy. In a year in which professors in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics have gone to extraordinary lengths to serve their students and communities, we are particularly disappointed with and disavow the recent comments of a former editor of The American Scholar. Instead of highlighting his words, we choose to elevate Dr. Biden’s thoughts on the power of education: “Education teaches us compassion and kindness, connection to others.”